Surgical splint



A. L. PAPP SURGICAL SPLINT July 6, 1954 Filed Aug. 19, 1952 Arthur L. Papp INVENTOR. Q7232.

A Home BY ad Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SURGICAL SPIQINT Arthur L. Papp, Fremont, Wis.

Application. August 19, 1952, Serial No. 305,190

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in surgical splints adapted for supporting fractures of the forearm, and for other purposes.

An important object of the invention is to provide a contractible surgical splint composed of a pair of semi-cylindrical or semi-ovate members with means for adjustably securing said members in a position to embrace or encircle the fractured member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lacing for connecting the longitudinal side edges of the two splint members to each other whereby the diameter of the splint may be adjusted at either end of the splint to accommodate fractured members of different sizes.

Still a further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, references being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper splint member;

Figure 3 is a similar view of the lower splint member;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the fastening hooks for the lacing taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates the splint generally which is composed of an upper substantially semi-cylindrical or semi-ovate splint member 6 and the numeral i designates a lower substantially semicylindrical or semi-ovate splint member, both of said members preferably being constructed of rigid material, such as aluminum or other suitable metal.

The upper and lower members 6 and 1 are" assembled in position on the forearm 8 or other body member and with the side edges of the 'members 6 and I positioned in overlapping relation with respect to each other to completely embrace or encircle the member in the region of a 2 fracture thereof. The side edges of the upper member 6 are positioned outermost with-respect to the-side edges of the lower member I and a row of hooks 9 are secured to the outer surface at the longitudinal side edges of the upper member 6, the hooks including studs I0 and are similar in construction to the conventional hooks of laced shoes whereby the studs Ill are upset similar to the riveting art for attaching the hooks to the member 6.

After the splint members 6 and I have been placed in position on the fractured member 8 a lacing II is placed transversely under the lower splint member I and engaged with the hooks 9 at the opposite side edges of the upper splint member 6, as shown more clearly in Figured of the drawing and the lacing is then suitably tightened to support the fractured member in the splint.

The upper splint member 6 may be formed with a plurality of ventilating openings l2 and the lower splint member I may be similarly formed with vent openings I3.

The lower splint member 7 may be constructed of a length substantially greater than the length of the upper splint member 6 to extend the ends of the lower splint member forwardly and rearwardly beyond the ends of the upper splint member 6, as shown to advantage in Figure l of the drawing to further aid in the support of the fractured member 8.

It will be apparent that the lacing ll may be adjusted at either end of the splint to decrease or increase the diameter thereof in order to properly conform ,to the fractured member.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A surgical splint comprising an expansible and contracti-ble sleeve-like body composed of a pair of rigid semi-cylindrical members arranged with the side edges of one member overlapping the side edges of the other of said members, a row of hooks carried by the first named member adjacent each longitudinal edge of the latter, and flexible means extending transversely at the outer urface of the second named member and engaging both rows of hooks for contracting the members in assembled embracing position on a part of a persons anatomy.

2. A surgica1 splint comprising an expansible and contractible sleeve-like body composed of a pair of rigid semi-cylindrical members arranged with the side edges of one member overlapping the side edges of the other of said members, a row of hooks riveted to the outermost splint member adjacent each of its longitudinal edges, and a lacing engaging said hooks and extending transversely at the outer surface of the other of said splint members for contracting the members on a partof a persons anatomy, said hooks being backed against the underlying member to relieve pressure subjected by the back of the hooks to the person upon tightening the lacing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

